Apparatus for actuating liquids.



PATENTED PEB. 18, 1908.

R. GONRADBR. APPARATUS FOR AGTUATING LIQUIDS.

APPLICATION FILED JAH'. 14. 1905.

- @XX/immo RUDOLPH GONRADER, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.`

Patented Feb. 18, 1908.

Application filed January 14. 1905- S'erial No. 241.100.

To all whom 'itmay "concern:

Be it known that I, RUDOLPH CONRADER, a LCitizen of the United States, residing at Erie, 1n the county of Erie and State of Pennsyl- Vania, have invented new and useful Imrovernents in Apparatuses for Actuating 4iquids, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatuses for actuating liquids, and consists in certain improvements in the construction thereof as will be hereinafterfully described and pointed out in the claims.

More particularly the invention relates to an automatic means for controlling air lifts so as to turn in the actuating Huid, ordinarily air, with a predetermined level'of liquid in the well and cu-t olf the same when the level of liquid falls below this point. The broader phases of the invention may be applicable to other mechanisms for actuating liquids but it is particularly adapted to raising liquids Wherethere is a direct application of Vthe-actuating fluid to the liquid and where this application is continuous during'the pumping action as particularly exemplified inthe patent to J. G. Pohle #$487,639, Dec. 6, 1892. With apparatuses ofthis class the greatest efficiency is obtained where the depth of liquid is about two-thirds of the entire length of the eduction tube. Where the level of liquid in the well falls below this, that is when the volume in the lift decreases so as to produce a lower level when at rest, `the eiiiciency 0f the apparatus decreases quite materially. It is desirable therefore to have some means for controlling the supply of air, so that it may be cut off when the level of liquid falls below a predetermined one, and thus obtain with the actuating iuid `used the greatest eiiciency. It is also desirable to prevent numerous actions of the valve controlli mechanisms, thatis to so form it that when the actuating fluid is turned bnto the well, the liquid must drop some distance before the actuating fluid is cut off, and then after it is cut oil must rise in the wellan appreciable distance before it is again turned on.L All of these objects are accomplished with'the appa` ratus herein .disclosed and claimed.

The other features and objects of the invention will appear from the specification and claims.

The invention isillustrated in the accompanying drawings as followsz-Figiu'e 1' shows a central section of the ap aratus. F ig. 2, a section on the line 2 2 in ig. 1.

A marks the well, B the eduction tube. The eduction tube i's secured in a fitting B2 from which the eduction tube passes by the passage B. The air tube C, as shown, extends into the well through the eduction tube. It is connected with any desirable source of supply through a pipe C. The supply is controlled by a valve c. The valve disk c of this valve operates u on a seat c2 The webs c3 act as guides for irecting the valve to its seat. A stem c* extends from the valve through the head d of a cylinder D and is secured to a piston D in this cylinder. A pipe E leads from the bottom of the eduction tube to the cylinder Dbelow the piston D. A pin d2 extends between the piston D and a lever D2, thelever forming a counter pressure device for the piston.. y

In the operation of the device, the lever D2 is suiliciently weightedto require a pressure to move the piston D that will balance the column of liquid in the well at its maximum height. A leak c5 extends through the valve c. Through it actuating fluid asses continuously and so long as the liquid) in the well is below the predetermined level the valve c remains closed and the actuating iluid forces its way throughthe liquid in the well. It will be noted that the tube C traps the air so that there is in the tube O at all times, a pressure of air that will balance the column of liquidin the tube B above the end of the tube C. When the level of liquid reaches the desired maximum level, it so traps this air in the tube O as to create a back pressure therein sufficient to raise the piston D through the action of the air passing through the pipe E. As soon as this occurs, the upward movelment of the piston D permits the opening of the valve c and a consequent inrush of air which, through its direct action on the liquid, effects a continuous pumping' action similar to that described in the Pohle patent referred to. As long as the level of liquid remains above a point that will create a pressure suflcient to hold the piston D in` its upper position, the pumping action will continue, but as soon as the volume decreases so that the level of liquid in the Well falls to a lower point when at rest, the pressure on the piston D will so decrease as to permit of its falling and a consequent-closing ofthe valve and this will remainl until the liquid again reaches the maximum level.

In order to revent teo numerous actions of the valve, have arranged the counterpressure device so that it will decrease in power or force as the piston moves upwardly. Ihis may be accomplished with numerous eX edients. As shown, the pin d2 is rovi ed at its ends with the points d3. he lower point is arranged in the socket d4r of the pistonr The socket d5 is arranged below the pivot d of the lever, so that as the lever moves upwardly the point describes the arc cl6 so that the'fulcrum of the lever is increased and the force of the counter-pressure device consequently decreased. Arranged on the lever is the sleeve I)a which is locked in adjustment by the set screw D. v It has the upwardly extendin posts D on which is arranged the weig t D5. This is adjustably secured by the set screw D". It will be noted that the center of gravity of this weight describes the arc d? and the varm of the lever relative to thiscenter of gravity rapidly decreases as the lever is moved u through the action of the piston, so that tie force incident to this weight rapidly decreases. fixed weight D7 with the set screw D8 is also provided for varying the pressure at which the iston acts and-consequently the height of liqu1d vin the well. From .this construction it will be noted that when the. piston is raised with a predetermined pressure it will remain in its open osition until the pressure is below that which raises the piston. The fitting B? is peculiarly adapted to this st le of well. It is provided with the threads i; and b at the bottom and the thread b2 at the top. The fitting B3 is provided with double threads b3 and b4, the thread b4 screwing into the thread b2. The thread l) engages a thread on the casing A and the inner thread b engages the thread on the eduction tube B. The air tube is screwed into the tube b3.

What I claim as new is 1. In an apparatus for actuating liquids, the combination of the lift in which liquids are raised, means for delivering air to the col umn in the lift, and devices subjected to a pressure varying with the head in the lift and acting under the influence of said pressure to l turn in a supply of air to the column in the lift when the ydevices are subjected to the pressure from a predetermined head.

2. In an Vapparatus for actuating liquids, thev combination of the lift in which liquids are raised, means for delivering air to the column in the lift, and devices subjected to a pressure varying with the head in the lift and acting under. the influence of said pressure to automatically cut ofll the supply of air to the column in the lift when the devices are subjected to the pressure incident to a predetermined head.

3. In an apparatus for actuating liquids, the combination of the lift in which liquids are raised, means for delivering air to the column'in the lift, and devices subjected to a pressure varying with the head in the lift and acting under the influence of said pressure to automatically turn in a supply of air to the column in the lift when the devices are subjected to the pressure incident to a predetermined head and to cut ofi' said supply when said devices are subjected to the pressure incident to a predetermined lower head.

4. In an apparatus for actuating liquids, the combination of an eduction tube; a fluid tube for conducting actuating fluid to a point of application to the liquid; means for maintaining the air pressure in the fluid tube equal to the head of liquid in the eduction tube above the point of application; and means operated bysaid actuating fluid for opening a connection in the fluid tube.

5. In an apparatus for actuating liquids by the direct application of the actuating fluid, the combination of an eduction tube a tube for conducting actuating fluid to a point of application to the liquid; means for delivering continuously a minute supply of actuating fluid, said means and actuating fluid tube being arranged to trap the fluid so delivered and thus-raise its pressure with a rise of level of liquid; and mechanism subjected to the action of said fluid and arranged to be operated at a predetermined pressure to turn in a supply of actuating fluid.

6. In an apparatus for actuating liquids by the directy application of the actuating fluid, the combination of an eduction tube; a tube for conducting actuating fluid to a point of' application to the liquid; means for delivering continuously a minute supply of actuat-l ing fluid said means and actuating fluid tube being arranged to trap the fluid and thus vary its pressure to balance the column of liquid; and mechanism subjected to the action of said Y fluid and arranged to be operated at a predetermined pressure to turn in a supply of' actuating fluid.

7. In an apparatus for actuating liquids by the direct application of the actuating fluid, the combination of an eduction tube; a tube for conducting actuating fluid to a point ol application to the liquid; means for delivering continuously a minute supply of actuating fluid said means and actuating fluid tube being arranged to trap the fluid so delivered and thus raise its pressure with a rise of level of liquid; a,fluid actuated motor subjected to the action of said fluid so trapped g a valve actuated by said motor for controlling actuating fluid passing to the tube for conducting actuating fluid; and a counter-pressure device operating upon said motor.

8. In an apparatus for actuating liquids by the direct application of the actuating fluid, the combination of an eduction tube; a tube for conducting actuating 'fluid to apoint of application to the liquid: means l'oi' delivering continuouslyv a minute supply oll actuating fluid, said means and actuating fluid tube being arraiiged to trap the fluid so delivered to the action ol said Afluid so trapped; a valve i actuated by said motor loi' controlling a'c- 1 tua-ting fluid passing t-o the tube lor conducting actuating fluid; a counter-pressui'e device operating upon said motor; and a separate tube leading from the point of' applicathe fluid supply tube arranged to deliver actuatiiig fluid near the bottom of thc tube` B; valve c controlling the actuating fluid;

a leak passage ci; and mechanism control` ling the valve c whereby it is opened with a. pre(letcri'iiined pressure ofY fluid delivered through the leak.

li). ln an apparatus for actuating liquids,

the combination with the eductiontube B; the fluid supply tube (l arranged to deliver actuating fluid near the bottom ol' the tube B; valve c controlling the actuating fluid; a leak passage 0"; fluid controlli-id motor conlnccted with the vpi pe C and arranged to control thc valve c; and a counter pressure device on said motor,

l l. In an apparatus for actuating liquidsi thecombination of the lift in which liquids are raised, means for delivering air to the column in the litt7 and devices subjected to a pressure varying with the head in the lift and acting under the influence of said ressurc to turn in a supply of air to the colliiinn in the lift when the devices are subjected to the pressure incident to a predetermined head and to cut oft' said supply when the head. reaches a predetermii'ied-smaller head, the said devicev being arranged to act for turning in a new supply of air only when the liquid again reaches a predetermined higher head.

12. ln an apparatus for actuating liquids by the directapplication of the actuating fluid, the combination of an eductioii tube; a tube for conducting actuating fluid to a point of application to the liquid means for delivering continuously a minute supply of actuating fluid, 'said means ,and actuating fluidvtube being arranged to trap the fluid so delivered and thus raise its pressure With. a rise of level of liquid and mechanism subjected to the action of said fluid and arrangedy to be operated at a predetermined pressure to turn in a supply of" actuating fluid, and to y be oi'ieratcd only at a predetermined lower )ressurc to cut of]I the su ,i )lv of actuating l A if s e fluid. and thus raise its pressure with a rise of level ol' liquid; a fluid actuated motor subjected 15%. ln an apparatus for actuating liquids by the direct application of the actuating fluid, the combination ofl an eduction tube; a t ubc for conducting actuatingfluid to a point of application to the liquid; means for delivering continuously a minute supply of actuating fluid said means and actuated fluid tube being arranged to trap the fluid so delivered and thus raise its pressure with a rise of level ol" liquid; a fluid actuated motor subjected to the action of' said pressure and arranged to be. z'ictuatcd at a predetermined pressure; a counter-pressure device operating upon said motor, and decreasing in force as said motor is operated and a valve in said tube controlled b v said motoi'.

1-1. ln an apparatus for actuating liquids by the direct application of the actuating fluid, the combination of van eductioii tube;

,a tube for conducting actuating fluid to a point of application to the liquid; means for delivering continuouslyT a minute supply of actuating fluid said means and actuating fluid tube being arranged to trap the fluid so delivered and thus raise its pressure with a rise of level of liquid; a fluid actuated motor subjected to the action of said fluid and ar ranged to be actuatedvat a predetermined pressure; and a counter pressure device comprising the pivoted lever D2 having the point `of application on the fluid actuated motor below the centerof the pivot ofthe lever, and having a weight arranged above the horizontal plane including the pivot of said lever.

15. ln any apparatus for actuating' liquids, the combination with theeduction tube and actuating fluid tube; of the fitting B2 having the threads l) and Zi at the bottomy the thread b2 at the top, and the fitting B3 having the'double threads?)4 and b3; the thread f) engaging the casing, the thread ti the eduction tube, the-thread l5? the thread b on the fitting B3; and the thread. b3 the actuating fluid tube. 1.1-

In testimony whereof l haveliereunto set Vmy hand in the presence of two subscribing *witnesses* f c RUDOLPH CNRADER. Witnesses:

e. D. intim, M. C; SULLIVAN. 

